Kathy Najimy
Actress and Human Rights Advocate
Host: Basima Farhat
Previously Aired On: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 – Listen to the Show!
Kathy currently can be seen as a cast member on the CBS one hour drama NUMB3RS. She portrays the saucy, brilliant head of the University, Millie Finch. Kathy also provides the voice of “Peggy Hill,” on the Emmy award winning FOX TV hit KING OF THE HILL, (11th season) for which she received an Annie and a WIN award.
Kathy was very proud to be named Ms. Magazine’s Woman of the Year 2004.
Kathy starred as the legendary Mae West on Broadway in the hit play, DIRTY BLONDE to great reviews and later reprised the role in the West coast premiere at The Old Globe Theater (Outer Critic’s Best Actress Award). For three seasons she starred opposite Kirstie Alley as “Olive” on NBC’s VERONICA’S CLOSET, for which she received an American Comedy Award nomination. Najimy is known internationally for her portrayal of “Sister Mary Patrick” in the blockbuster hits SISTER ACT 1 and 2, which won her an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress and a nomination by the Hollywood Women’s Press club for female Discovery of the Year.
With Mo Gaffney, Najimy starred in and wrote the KATHY AND MO SHOW her long running off Broadway play (Obie Award) — which was later filmed for 2 HBO specials: PARALLEL LIVES (2 Ace awards and an American Comedy Award Nomination) and KATHY & MO: THE DARK SIDE, (Cable Ace Awards for both her roles as actor and Executive Producer and American Comedy Award nom.) Recently, THE KATHY AND MO SHOW enjoyed a sold out reunion in NY and The Kathy and Mo Show complete DVD (with both HBO specials and more) is now available on Amazon.com.
Kathy’s work includes over 20 films including starring roles in HOCUS POCUS with Bette Midler, RatRace, and the current indie film SAY UNCLE. Others include: HOPE FLOATS, NEVADA, CATS DON’T DANCE, ZACK AND REBA opposite Brittany Murphy, THIS IS MY LIFE, THE FISHER KING, SOAPDISH, THE HARD WAY, Margaret Cho’s 2 films BAM BAM and CELESTE and TWO SISTERS with appearances in IT’S PAT, THE WEDDING PLANNER with Jennifer Lopez, JEFFREY, and THE BIG K. Najimy has performed on Broadway and at Madison Square Garden in the VAGINA MONOLOGUES with Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close, Queen Latifah, Gloria Steinem, Alanis Morrisette and others. She was thrilled to play Sharon Stones’ gynecologist in HBO’s: IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2, with Ellen DeGeneres.
Kathy sang and danced as Elmo’s stepmother on FOX’s TV special CINDERELMO, and also sang and danced her way through the opening number of the 1995 Academy Awards with Tim Curry. In 1993, she starred in the Emmy award winning TNT musical special IN SEARCH OF DR. SEUSS.
On television, Najimy was featured in a three part arc on CBS’ CHICAGO HOPE, in which she portrayed an unstable psychiatrist battling manic depression. Additionally, she starred in Disney’s The SCREAM TEAM with Eric Idle and she appeared in the television series SHE TV, FOOL FOR LOVE, THAT’S SO RAVEN, EARLY EDITION, and was featured in 3 episodes of the hit sitcom ELLEN.
She has voiced characters for HBO’s animated SISSY DUCKLING as well as HEY ARNOLD!, PEPPER ANN, SMART ANIMALS, HERCULES, AMERICAN DAD, LITTLE BILL and several others.
Besides over 15 years of THE KATHY & MO SHOW, other stage credits include roles at The Old Globe, and over a dozen musicals, including GODSPELL and GREASE. She was a five year member of the feminist theater SISTERS ON STAGE and soloed in IT’S MY PARTY, her one-woman show.
Najimy directed the Off-Broadway production of the critical hit, BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID, and directed the Off-Off Broadway plays DON’T GET ME STARTED, and I CAN PUT MY FIST IN MY MOUTH as well as LITTLE AMERICAN WHORE and STOP YELLIN’. Kathy is proud of her four years as resident director of the Emmy Award-winning New Image Teen Theater.
For her over 18 years of AIDS activism, Najimy has been honored with the L.A. Shanti’s Founder award as well as the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center’s Distinguished Achievement award. She is an enthusiastic supporter of AIDS, Choice, Arabic Pride, Women’s and animal rights and frequently travels around the country and speaks on these issues. Najimy has lent her support to a variety of worthy organizations that include: Project Angel Food, APLA, GLAAD, Human Rights Campaign Fund, Broadway Cares, Equity Fights AIDS, AMFAR, Planned Parenthood, Voters for Choice, and NARAL. As a proud Lebanese American Kathy has received awards from the ACC and The ADC, and been honored with the Arabic Comedy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Kathy has posed twice for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals popular campaign, “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur,” and in 2000, she received PETA’s Humanitarian of the Year Award from Paul McCartney.
Najimy has been published in the New York Times, as well as several national magazines. She contributed a chapters to the Random House book THE CHOICES WE MADE, which was released on the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, 5 minutes with the President, and she will soon be featured in the upcoming book STARPOWER, which will showcase politically active celebrities. On tape, she voiced Wally Lamb’s best selling novel SHE’S COME UNDONE.
Kathy is shamefully proud of the gold chip she won as tournament champion of CELEBRITY POKER SHOWDOWN winning 100 thousand for V-DAY and also recently winning another 100 grand for at risk teen girls as the first Champion of CBS’s 6 week GAME SHOW MARATHON.
Kathy spends her rare spare time jumping out of airplanes and playing games. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband of 11 years, singer/actor Dan Finnerty (The Dan Band), their glorious daughter Samia, and their dogs: Happy and Princess.
This is the first time I web site. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, above all its discussion. Judging by the sheer number of comments on your articles, I suppose I am not the only one having an interest.return again to read some more of your stuff.
Comment by candles | December 15, 2010
A really interesting article – thanks! I was about to give up searching for this info, but fortunately, this was the last site I Googled LOL.
Comment by kindle in australia | February 1, 2011